Name: Makayla Galler
From: Tempe, Arizona
Votes: 0
A Moment’s Distraction, a Lifetime’s Impact
A Moment’s Distraction, a Lifetime’s Impact By Makayla Galler
Distracted driving is more than just a dangerous habit, it’s a serious issue that affects lives every day. Through the terrible death of my family friend, Erica Forney in Fort Collins Colorado, distracted driving has profoundly changed everyone involved lives forever. Just feet from her house, Erica, who was just nine years old, vibrant and happy, was hit and died. She was riding her bike as usual when she came upon an SUV driven by someone momentarily preoccupied by their cell phone. The driver, who didn’t see Erica until it was too late, was devastated. Erica’s family and friends faced a loss that is impossible to fully express.
Knowing that Erica’s death was avoidable gives the risks of distracted driving terrible reality great relevance. Erica’s story serves as a continual reminder of how fast life can change and how simply a few seconds of staring at a phone while driving may have terrible results. Her death sticks with me every time I see someone on their phone while driving, I can’t help but consider how those few seconds might make all the difference between life and death.
Though I haven’t yet spoken out about distracted driving, Erica’s story makes me want to start. By reminding others of the actual effects distracted driving has on families, friends, and whole communities, I think her memory might help change things. Especially among young drivers who might not completely understand the dangers of using a cell phone behind the wheel. Personal stories like Erica’s can help others realize that this problem affects actual lives cut short and families left devastated. If Erica’s story can encourage even one person to put down their phone and focus on driving, then her memory will truly make a difference.
To effectively raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and encourage safer habits among young drivers, here are some innovative ideas that can make a lasting impact. One idea could be the StaySafe Phone Dock a smart, simple phone holder designed to keep drivers focused on the road. With this dock, drivers place their phone into the holder, instantly activating “Drive Mode” through Bluetooth. In Drive Mode, the StaySafe Dock blocks all unnecessary notifications, allowing only essential alerts, like navigation and emergency calls. Paired with an app, the StaySafe Dock detects when the car is moving and automatically silences texts, emails, and social media notifications until the vehicle is parked, ensuring drivers can focus on the essentials without being distracted.
To encourage even safer habits, a small LED light on the dock changes colors to show the driver’s focus level green for distraction-free driving, yellow if the phone was used briefly, and red if the phone was handled manually. The StaySafe Dock could also help drivers qualify for insurance discounts or earn rewards from schools for maintaining safe driving habits, making it both practical and beneficial. This affordable, effective solution would help drivers stay off their phones, making driving safer for everyone.
While the StaySafe Dock provides a solution for the everyday driver, Impact Reality takes a different approach by showing the dangers of distracted driving through a powerful visual setup. This unique presentation displays a wrecked car and bike as a dramatic centerpiece, bringing the real-life consequences of distracted driving directly to audiences. The sight of the wreckage captures attention immediately, giving students and community members a direct look at what can happen when drivers are distracted. The wrecked car and bike communicate a strong message without words, making the dangers of distracted driving feel intensely real.
During an Impact Reality presentation, speakers guide participants through a real story like Erica’s or hypothetical accident, explaining how even a short distraction like checking a text message can lead to tragic results. The presence of the actual wreckage makes the story feel immediate and personal, creating a powerful emotional impact that makes facts and statistics feel more real. This experience encourages viewers to rethink their own driving habits and choose safer options. By blending visuals and storytelling, Impact Reality leaves a lasting impression, ensuring the message about safe driving sticks with participants long after the presentation ends.
Taking the educational experience even further, DriveSafe VR offers an immersive, hands-on way to show young drivers the dangers of distracted driving through virtual reality. By putting on a VR headset, users enter a realistic driving simulation where they face everyday distractions like a buzzing phone, incoming texts, or passengers talking. These scenarios reveal how even a brief distraction can lead to delayed braking, swerving, or worse allowing drivers to feel the consequences safely within a virtual space. Programs like “It Can Wait” have shown VR’s impact on driver education, and DriveSafe VR builds on this by focusing on interactive situations that mirror the real distractions young drivers face.
In addition to these scenarios, DriveSafe VR includes interactive challenges that build focus and reaction time, turning safe driving practices into a game. Users can replay different situations and track their progress, strengthening skills they can use in real life. Created for schools, driver’s education programs, and community events, DriveSafe VR is easy to set up and gives young drivers a close-up look at the risks of distracted driving. With DriveSafe VR, students gain a memorable, engaging experience that helps make safe driving habits part of their daily lives.
Raising awareness about distracted driving isn’t just about giving people statistics it’s about making the consequences feel real and personal. The tragic death of my family’s friend Erica Forney, who was hit and killed while riding her bike near her home, is a heartbreaking reminder of the serious harm even a moment of distraction can cause. With tools like the StaySafe Phone Dock, Impact Reality, and DriveSafe VR, we can reach young drivers in practical and meaningful ways, helping them see that distracted driving is not just a statistic. These ideas make safe driving habits easier to understand, remember, and put into practice, showing that choosing to drive distraction-free really can save lives. If these ideas can prevent even one tragedy like Erica’s, then the work to spread the message of safe driving will truly be worth it.
